From the very beginning, the heartbeat of God has been for the outsider. In Genesis 1:26–27, we are reminded that every person is made in the image of God. In Leviticus 19:33–34, God commands His people to treat the foreigner as a native-born and to love them as themselves. In Exodus 22:21–24, He warns against mistreating the foreigner, the widow, and the orphan—those who are most vulnerable.

These truths are not isolated—they echo throughout the Scriptures. In Jeremiah 22:3, the people are told to do what is just and right: to rescue the oppressed, and not to wrong the foreigner. In Psalm 146:9, God is described as the One who watches over the foreigner and sustains the fatherless and the widow. Jesus Himself identifies with the stranger in Matthew 25, saying, “I was a stranger and you invited me in.”

This call is also deeply rooted in the legacy of our denomination. In the late 1800s, A.B. Simpson, founder of the Christian & Missionary Alliance, became burdened by the millions of immigrants arriving in America—many of whom felt alienated from the formal church but were still hungry for God. While pastoring a prestigious church in New York City, Simpson spent his afternoons on the docks, sharing the Gospel with Italian immigrants. Many came to faith—but when he invited them into his church, his congregation resisted.

Faced with this tension, Simpson made a bold decision. He stepped away from comfort and prestige, convinced that the Gospel is for all people—of every race, class, and background. He envisioned a church where the rich and poor sat side by side, united by Jesus. That conviction birthed a global missions movement, built on the belief that no one is beyond the reach of God's love.

That same calling continues today. The nations are coming to Omaha—and they need Jesus. We believe this is not a coincidence, but a divine invitation. As followers of Jesus, we are called to respond with compassion, not complacency.

While we are always called to love all people as our neighbors, this series will focus specifically on how we can love our immigrant neighbors—those who are often labeled by culture as “foreign,” but are deeply known and loved by God.

While we are always called to love all people as our neighbors, this series will focus specifically on how we can love our immigrant neighbors—those who are often labeled by culture as “foreign,” but are deeply known and loved by God. Through a mix of biblical teaching and first-hand stories, we’ll explore how the Gospel invites us to uncouple our faith from politics, grow in empathy, and reflect the radical welcome of Jesus in both our personal lives and our church community.

We’ll also look ahead to the vision in Revelation 7:9–12, where people from every nation, tribe, people, and language worship before the throne. The church is at its best when it reflects that beautiful diversity—and it starts when we choose to love like Jesus.

This is more than a series.
It’s a spiritual calling—a chance for us to be the kind of church our city, and our world, desperately needs.

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